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AWN Headline News

Production Headline News

Rogue Pictures Acquires Distribution Rights To Driver

Rogue Pictures has acquired distribution rights to Constantin Film and Impact Pictures' production of the movie version of the best-selling videogame DRIVER. Academy Award winner Roger Avary is scripting, and will direct.

Producers on the project are Impact's Jeremy Bolt and Paul W.S. Anderson and Constantin's Bernd Eichinger and Robert Kulzer. Rogue will hold worldwide distribution rights to the title, excluding Germany, Austria, and German-speaking Switzerland, which will be handled by Constantin Film. Foreign sales will be handled by Focus Features Intl.

Headline News

Da Vinci Code Quest on Google Challenges Fans Through Online Puzzles

Columbia Pictures and Google have partnered on THE DA VINCI CODE Quest on Google a 24-day online puzzle adventure themed to THE DA VINCI CODE. Players will discover new puzzles on Google daily at www.google.com/davincicode. THE DA VINCI CODE Quest runs through May 19, 2006 the worldwide release date of the film.

Star Headline News

J.J. Abrams to Direct Next Star Trek Feature

Paramount has tapped J.J. Abrams to produce, write and direct the 11th STAR TREK feature, scheduled for a 2008 release, reports VARIETY. Damon L Lindelof and Bryan Burk, Abrams' producing team from LOST, also will produce.

Abrams will co-write the script with MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE III scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The story will focus on the early days of James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission.

Headline News

Alien Writer Develops They Bite

ALIEN and TOTAL RECALL writer Dan O'Bannon, former Paramount exec Brian Witten and producer Rob Gallagher are developing sci-fi thriller THEY BITE, reports VARIETY. O'Bannon is set to write and direct. Project is set to go into production this year.

While at Paramount as an svp, Witten oversaw THE LONGEST YARD, FOUR BROTHERS and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III. He previously worked as a svp at New Line.

Film Headline News

Korean Film Council Launches Filmmakers Development Lab with University of Hawai

In a major initiative to nurture and encourage emerging Korean-American filmmakers, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced the launch of its inaugural KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab.

Headline News

Brothers Quay Share Animation Influences During U.S. Visit

Stephen and Timothy Quay sat with AWN for a rare interview last night, a day before their appearance as guests of honor at the 10th Marc Davis Celebration of Animation. The Brothers Quay are set to be feted at the Marc Davis lecture on Friday, April 21, 2006, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills.

The lecture will mark the first time the brothers have appeared personally to discuss and present their work to an audience in their native United States, where the identical twins were born near Philadelphia in 1947.

Interactive Headline News

New Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder TeleStory Interactive Books Arrive

JAKKS Pacific Inc. announced a worldwide licensing agreement with HIT Ent. to market and distribute JAKKS Pacific's new TeleStory interactive books based on HIT's popular THOMAS & FRIENDS, BARNEY, THE WIGGLES and BOB THE BUILDER properties. The TeleStory system connects directly into a standard TV using Plug & Read technology and serves as a fun, introductory reading guide for preschool-aged children.

Artists Headline News

Non-Narrative Toon Wanted for Not Still Art Fest

11th Annual Not Still Art FestivalOctober 7, 2006New York, New York, USADeadline: June 15, 2006

Not Still Art Festival is an international screening of abstract and non-narrative electronic motion imaging with music/sound design. The Not Still Art Festival was first organized in 1996 by video artist, Carol Goss, to provide a forum for video artists, electronic animators, musicians/sound artists working in non-narrative forms.

Series Headline News

Fuse Cable Network Premieres Empire Square

On Tuesday, April 18, 2006, the music television network fuse, premiered EMPIRE SQUARE, its entry into the in-your-face, envelope-pushing animated cable series sweepstakes.

EMPIRE SQUARE and its creators hail from England: Lloyd Salmons and Ant Cauchi of the design shop Outside Line (creators of the Beatles website and currently designing Quadrophenias DVD release) and Dave Rowntree, drummer for Blur. The show began as downloadable three-minute segments for British mobile phone users, but was snapped up by Fuse and expanded into a half-hour show.

Headline News

Ira Rubenstein Upped To Sony Pictures Digital EVP

Sony Pictures Digital upped Ira Rubenstein from svp to evp to of marketing and production. Rubenstein will continue to manage the divisions production efforts to extend Sony Pictures Entertainment properties into the digital marketplace through SonyPictures.com, mobile games, personalization products and the creation of casual games.

Headline News

MAXON Launches MoGraph

MAXON announced MoGraph, a new module for its flagship 3D animation tool, CINEMA 4D. Offering numerous possibilities for creating vfx using simple primitives, logos and text, MoGraph is the ideal solution for motion graphics artists ready to step into the third dimension.

Media Headline News

Ent. Rights Signs Magic Lantern For New Media Development

London-based Entertainment Rights Plc. (ER) has appointed award-winning, interactive media company, Magic Lantern, to develop new media content. ER hopes to maximize interactive opportunities based on its library of characters and programs across non-traditional broadcast platforms. ER will work with Magic Lantern to develop original content from existing brands, as well as develop new properties for initial distribution on web and mobile.

In addition, ER is working on a number of online and web initiatives, such as the globalization of the Postman Pat website.

Comics Headline News

Larry Lieberman to Head Marketing for Virgin Comics/Virgin Animation

Larry Lieberman joins Virgin Comics Llc./Virgin Animation as chief marketing officer, to overseeing the company's U.S. operations, Global Licensing Business, Strategic Marketing, Publishing and Advertising Sales Divisions. Lieberman is also charged to grow the company's worldwide online and wireless content initiatives.

He will be based in New York City, working closely with Sharad Devarajan, ceo, Virgin Comics/Virgin Animation, to whom he reports.

Animation Headline News

Ken Silverman, Richard Rich & Mike Young on Panel at Indian Film Fest of LA

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles presents The Indian Animation Industry: Pencils to Pixels to Prominence on Saturday, April 22, 2006, at 2:00 pm at the Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood. This IFFLA Special Event is designed as a rare North American mini-seminar on the past, present, and future of the fastest growing sector of the Indian entertainment industry. First-hand experiences and perspectives will be shared by animation industry leaders from the U.S. and India.

Headline News

USC’s Firstlook Student Screening This Friday

The USC School of Cinema-Television, Division of Animation & Digital Arts is hosting its annual FIRSTLOOK student screening. The event will take place on Friday. April 21, 2006, at 7:30 pm at the DGA Theatre Complex, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90046. It is one block west of Fairfax Ave. on Sunset Blvd. (southeast corner of Sunset and Hayworth). There is ample underground parking with security. Program begins promptly. For more information, call Isabelle Gelot at (213) 740-3986, email animation@cinema.usc.edu or visit anim.usc.edu or cinema.usc.edu.

Screen Headline News

Over the Hedge & Southland Tales to Screen at Cannes

The 59th edition of the Festival de Cannes announced its official selection. DreamWorks Animation returns to coveted event with Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatricks OVER THE HEDGE, which screen as part of the Official selection Out Of Competition special screenings.

Headline News

Sojitsu Holding Takes Stake in Klockworx

Trading house Sojitsu Holding is set to take 17% of distribution company Klockworx, reports VARIETY. Sojitsu hopes to develop and market content for the international market, including live-action films and animation. Sojitsu will buy current Klockworx shares and will not participate in Klockworx management.

"We plan to set up a project team between our two companies to discuss areas of cooperation," Klockworx vp Itaru Fujimoto said.

Anime Headline News

Right Stuf’s 12th Anime Today Podcast Now Online

The Right Stuf Intl (TRSI) announced it has launched the 12th episode of ANIME TODAY, the first ever commercial podcast aimed at anime and manga enthusiasts.

Consistently ranked in the top 100 TV & Movie podcast subscriptions on Apples iTunes vying against podcasts by corporate moguls such as Cartoon Network, Fox and HBO, ANIME TODAY fans have been raving about the show since its initial debut last November.

Film Headline News

NATPE Student Video & Film Production Awards Call for Entries

NATPE Student Video & Film Production AwardsLas Vegas, Nevada, USAJanuary 15-18, 2006Deadline: May 1, 2006

The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Educational Foundation is hosting its annual Student Video & Film Production Awards. Winners will be rewarded with cash prizes and complementary registrations for the 2007 NATPE Conference & Exhibition.

Entertainment Headline News

Sony Awarding Games to Soldiers

Sony Online Entertainment: Serving Gamers Stationed AbroadWorld Wide WebMay 20, 2006Deadline: May 10, 2006

Sony Online Entertainment is showing its appreciation for the men and women of the Armed Forces who are actively serving overseas, far away from their homes and loved ones. If you or someone you are close to are currently stationed out of the country and loves videogames, Sony is offering a chance to win a SonyStyle gift card valued at $500 and a collection of Sony Online Ent. videogames.

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